Obviously, there are a lot differences between a significant other and an appraisal service in Maryland. However, the qualities one should look for in each of these often overlap: in both cases, one should look for someone who is well liked and respected, is easy to talk to and doesn’t take forever to make a decision.

As an appraisal service in Maryland, we always take care to ensure that each of our customers is satisfied with the work and customer service we provide. Often, our customers will tell us horror stories about appraisals gone wrong when handled by other appraisers. Recently we realized that the reason so many people have those horror stories is that they don’t know what to look for in a quality appraisal service in Maryland. Whatever type of situation you may be in that requires appraisal services, here’s a short list of things you should always look for:

License and certification: This might seem like a no-brainer, but one should never take for granted that an appraiser has the proper license and certification needed for their line of work. Here in Maryland, people who are still in training are allowed to handle certain appraisal transactions. While there are plenty of subpar appraisers out there with the proper certification, a license at least proves that the professional has gone through training and meets the basic requirements necessary to handle the job. You should never hesitate to ask your potential appraiser for evidence of their license—if they have it, then they’ll want to show it to gain your business!

Balance of thoroughness and timing: Some appraisers are perfectionists, taking weeks to get that last little piece of information. Others rush through their paperwork, putting speed above quality. What you need in an appraiser is someone who can strike a balance between these two extremes. You don’t want to wait an extra month on a superfluous addendum, but you also don’t want to get an appraisal with vital information missing.

Positive reviews: These days, it’s easy to find out the reputation of any appraisal service: all you have to do is type their name into an Internet search engine. While online ratings can be helpful to gain a general sense of whether the appraisal service is worth your time, remember to take over-the-top individual reviews—both negative and positive—with a grain of salt; often these reviews can say more about the person writing them than they do about the business. And remember, the recommendation of one real-life person whom you trust is often worth a lot more than the opinion of dozens of online strangers.

Easy to speak with: An appraiser spends a lot of time talking with people, trying to get information about the property or object they are trying to appraise. If you don’t feel at ease when communicating with a potential appraiser, then that’s a good sign others won’t either, meaning they won’t open up to them and you won’t be getting the best appraisal possible. Often, picking an appraiser comes down to your gut feeling, so don’t be afraid to trust it.

For an appraisal service in Maryland you can trust to possess all of these qualities and more, contact Jane Campbell-Chambliss & Associates, LLC today.